Moved to Action…..

Thanks to the inspiring workshop by Michael and Jenny at Princeton Public Library, I have been spurred to some action:

* I’VE DONE IT! I have started the conversation about ending the complete ban on cell phones in our library…. the conversation has begun and we’ll see where it goes (my Reference Department is so far in agreement that there is no need to completely, automatically ban cell phones and/or jump all over people just b/c they have a cell phone open or pressed against their heads! We will be governed by the general idea of ‘no disturbance of other patrons’ and general tolerance/intolerance of noice level, but not just b/c there is a cell phone)!

* I have also changed a policy about our Internet use to try to make it more user-friendly – it is in a trial phase and we’ll see how it goes! Normally, anyone who is a “second-time user” of the Internet has to wait until ALL “first-time users” get on. We are trying an approach which lets any user go on in the order in which they have signed up on our sheet. It is a little bit hard to explain, but hopefully this will eliminate unnecessary and unending waiting times.

* I blogged a bit more (both here at Library Gardenand over at my other blog, Pimp My Library) and I started a new blog Life in an Urban Public Library, where I will blog about my personal professional experiences as a Librarian in an Urban Public Library. I need to remember that my blog need not be perfect or formal!

* I plan to start a flickr account for the Paterson Free Public Library, and will post pictures there. I have been using flickr for personal photos for a long time now, but not so far for the library!

* I have plans in place to start a “No Log” at the Reference Desk, to record the services we repeatedly say “no” to, so we can reconsider them (item number 1 – PUBLIC FAXING!). You can read a bit more about “No Logs and No Wikis” here.

* Next up: Working toward IM in the library and going back to try to restart the wiki and/or blog I would like to see us using here at the library.

* Tonight is the last night of the Passaic County Fair and our library computer consortium, PALSPlus, has had a tent there throughout the week. Tonight it is our library’s turn to “staff” it – I am going, alongwith my Director and Assistant Director and I think it will be a lot of fun. We have t-shirts to wear and we have trivia questions and games and prizes. From what I have heard back so far, the tent has been a very popular place and a big success! I am going to be sure to share photos afterward! What a great way to show that the libraries are truly a part of the community!!!! I’m really excited about being there tonight and will report back!

Thanks, Michael and Jenny for all the inspiration! 🙂

Advertisements

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

3 Comments

1.Janie L. Hermann | July 22, 2006 at 12:24 pm

Wow… It is great to hear that the workshop is impacting you and your library already! I had that same feeling when I came back from Computers In Libraries last March. In fact, it was after I returned that I nudged Pete that it was time for us to finally get our blog idea off the ground and thus Library Garden was started. It was also because of CIL that we have a summer reading club wiki.

Oh, and I think our cell phone policy will finally be changing as a result of Michael and Jenny coming to town. Hurrah!

2.The Shifted Librarian | July 22, 2006 at 1:58 pm

You’re the ones implementing the changes – you rock! 🙂

Jenny

3.Anonymous | July 24, 2006 at 5:30 am

In Dorset,UK we’ve changed our mobile phone policy – did it for a short trial and then went for it – with little or no comments or complaints. Power to you all.

A Note on the history of posts

Please note that all Library Garden posts dated earlier than September 13,2009 originally appeared on our Blogger site. These posts have been imported to this site as a convenience when searching the entire site for content.

If you are interested in seeing the original post, with formatting and comments in tact, please bring up the original post at our old Blogger site.